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| Arabia |
| No Political Prisoners in Oman After General Amnesty |
| 2005-06-13 |
| The Omani government has said there are now no political prisoners in the country after a general amnesty granted by Sultan Qaboos ibn Said to 31 citizens convicted of plotting to overthrow the government through an outlawed organization. Lt. Gen. Malik ibn Sulaiman Al-Maamari, inspector general of police, said the convicts, mostly in their 30s, were released soon after the royal pardon on Wednesday. Al-Maamari said those arrested during protests seeking the release of the 31 people have also been freed. "There are no political prisoners in the country whatsoever." Sheikh Ahmed ibn Hamed Al-Khalili, the Grand Mufti, has welcomed the royal pardon, urging the youth to understand Islam in its truest spirit." Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd ibn Mahmouud Al-Said said the pardon was aimed at "reforming erring citizens to serve society" in keeping with Oman's age-old traditions. |
| Posted by:Fred |